Murphy Prototypes continues to provide opportunities for up-and-coming drivers
For the Murphy Prototypes endurance racing team, 2016 will be remembered as the year it provided up-and-coming drivers with an opportunity to compete in endurance racing at international level. The team will continue to follow that trend for this Sunday’s (28th August) 4 Hours of Le Castellet - round four of the European Le Mans Series - and is pleased to confirm the following line up for the Circuit Paul Ricard race:
Kevin Ceccon (Italy)
Making his European Le Mans Series debut, the Le Castellet event will mark the first ever endurance sportscar race for the 25-year old from Bergamo. Since 2009, Ceccon has competed in a number of high profile single-seater championships, including the European F3, GP2 and GP3 series’.
"I'm really happy to race with Murphy Prototypes in the ELMS this weekend. It’s a great opportunity for me and coming from GP3 it’s going to be an interesting transition. I'm really excited, as I am looking at this weekend to be the start of my endurance racing career."
Jonathan Coleman (UK)
From Weston-super-Mare in the south west of England, 34-year old Coleman has extensive experience of racing sports cars. Starting off in Radicals, he won the Enduro Championship in 2003 and then went on to win a VdeV Championship in 2005. After outings in the British GT Championship and more Radical races, Coleman tested for Murphy Prototypes in 2014 and 2015. In 2016 he drove in the first two ELMS races and the 24 hours of Le Mans with another team, but is now pleased to to be joining Murphy Prototypes.
“Since testing with the team I’ve kept in touch and I’m pleased to now have the chance to become a Murphys man! Having started the season in the ELMS, I’m delighted to be back, so I’m really looking forward to this weekend at Paul Ricard.”
Sean Doyle (Ireland)
The 22-year old from Wicklow in Ireland, is the one driver in this weekend’s line up that has driven with the team in all ELMS rounds this year. As well as underline his potential as and up-and-coming driver, Doyle has shown maturity above his experience in what is his first season of endurance sportscar racing.
“To have the chance of driving in this year’s ELMS in the LMP2 category has been a fantastic opportunity for me. I’m becoming more and more confident with the car as the season goes on, so for me it’s a case of making sure that I'm well prepared and I learn the circuits as quickly as I can. Paul Ricard is another I’ve never driven before, but I’m relishing the challenge.”
The three drivers will be racing the team’s Oreca-Nissan 03R #48 in the LMP category. Historically, the car and team have always faired well at the Paul Ricard track in the South of France, with Murphy Prototypes scoring its first ELMS victory there in 2013. Consequently, team principal Greg Murphy is anticipating a good race:
“It’s no secret that Paul Ricard is one of our favourite circuits. It has its own distinctive character and you have to be right on your game to do well there. It’s great that we are able to continue our programme of introducing drivers to our team and to endurance sportscar racing. The rotation of drivers is bringing a new dynamic to the operation and while it is not necessarily the way to win a championship, it’s enabling us to build relationships and develop areas within the team with an eye towards the future.”
The track action for the 4 Hours of Le Castellet kicks off with a 90-minute Free Practice session on Friday afternoon. There’s a further 90-minutes of Free Practice on Saturday morning followed by a 10-minute qualifying session at 13.30, with the four-hour race scheduled to start at 14.00. All times are CEST.
